bowmen in caps and petticoats; they had bows in their
hands, quivers on their shoulders, and broadswords at their right
sides. The archers were accompanied by slingers who carried bags with
missiles and were armed with short swords.

A hundred yards behind them advanced two small divisions of footmen,
one division armed with darts, the other with spears. Both carried
rectangular shields; on their breasts they had thick coats, as it were
armor, and on their heads caps with kerchiefs behind to ward off the
sun-rays. The caps and coats had blue and white stripes or yellow and
black stripes, which made those soldiers seem immense hornets.

Behind the advance guard, surrounded by a retinue of macebearers,
pushed on the litter of the minister, and behind it, with bronze
helmets and breastplates, the Greek companies, whose measured tread
called to mind blows of heavy hammers. In the rear was heard the
creaking of vehicles, and from the side of the highway slipped along
the bearded Phoenician merchant in his litter borne between two asses.
Above all this rose a cloud of golden dust, and heat also.

Suddenly from the vanguard galloped up a mounted soldier and informed
Herhor that Prince Ramses, the heir to the throne, was approaching. His
worthiness descended from the litter, and at that moment appeared a
mounted party of men who halted and sprang from their horses. One man
of this party and the minister began to approach each other, halting
every few steps and bowing.

"Be greeted, O son of the pharaoh; may he live through eternity!" said
the minister.

"Be greeted and live long, O holy father!" answered Ramses; then he
added,

"Ye advance as slowly as if your legs were sawn off, while Nitager will
stand before our division in two hours at the latest."

"Thou hast told truth. Thy staff marches very slowly."

"Eunana tells me also," here Ramses indicated an officer standing
behind him who was covered with amulets, "that ye have not sent scouts
to search ravines. But in case of real war an enemy might attack from
that side."

"I am not the leader, I am only a judge," replied the minister,
quietly.

"But what can Patrokles be doing?"

"Patrokles is bringing up the military engines with his Greek
regiment."

"But my relative and adjutant, Tutmosis?"

"He is sleeping yet, I suppose."

Ramses stamped impatiently, and was silent. He was a beautiful youth,
with a face almost feminine, to which anger and sunburn adde